Comments on: Footnotes the solution to my problems? http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:39:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Why programmers make good editors | Cyde Weys Musings http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-29861 Why programmers make good editors | Cyde Weys Musings Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:32:59 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-29861 [...] errors especially well when many people tend not to? I don’t think it’s just because I personally enjoy using parentheses so much that I keep a careful watch for abused parentheses everywhere I go, like some superheroic defender [...] [...] errors especially well when many people tend not to? I don’t think it’s just because I personally enjoy using parentheses so much that I keep a careful watch for abused parentheses everywhere I go, like some superheroic defender [...]

]]> By: William http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-22359 William Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:58:24 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-22359 Oh, and I agree with Jakel and snaked, though I'm not so certain about the kitchen sink... Oh, and I agree with Jakel and snaked, though I’m not so certain about the kitchen sink…

]]> By: Larry Pieniazek http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-22222 Larry Pieniazek Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:27:53 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-22222 I confess I'm partial to using footnotes. I even sometimes footnote my footnotes. It got to be such a running gag that I've been parodied for it. But maybe that was because my readers don't like them as much as I do. I'm also a parenthetical remark abuser. I've started trying to see if I could chop out the remark into its own sentence, or at least comma setoff phrase. I confess I’m partial to using footnotes. I even sometimes footnote my footnotes. It got to be such a running gag that I’ve been parodied for it. But maybe that was because my readers don’t like them as much as I do.

I’m also a parenthetical remark abuser. I’ve started trying to see if I could chop out the remark into its own sentence, or at least comma setoff phrase.

]]> By: drinian http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-22109 drinian Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:16:22 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-22109 Ever read <i>Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell</i>? The footnotes practically comprise a book in themselves. Great fun. Ever read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell? The footnotes practically comprise a book in themselves. Great fun.

]]> By: William http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-21953 William Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:39:02 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-21953 I have pretty much the same experience with footnotes - they keep the text looking clean, but not that great for the reader. Parentheses do affect the flow of the text when they get out of hand, though. I think a good general rule is that you should never need to take a breath just for the parentheses. I have pretty much the same experience with footnotes – they keep the text looking clean, but not that great for the reader.
Parentheses do affect the flow of the text when they get out of hand, though. I think a good general rule is that you should never need to take a breath just for the parentheses.

]]> By: Jakel http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-21950 Jakel Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:40:12 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-21950 Yes, I agree with snaked your informal style of blogging is one of the reasons that you're one of my favourite blogs. You keep the tone conversational while presenting some good information. A real world conversation wouldn't be dry with all the good, "unrelated" or "unimportant," bits footnoted, it would have all kinds of parenthetical comments and tangents. Keep going with what you have, it works. ^_^ Yes, I agree with snaked your informal style of blogging is one of the reasons that you’re one of my favourite blogs. You keep the tone conversational while presenting some good information. A real world conversation wouldn’t be dry with all the good, “unrelated” or “unimportant,” bits footnoted, it would have all kinds of parenthetical comments and tangents. Keep going with what you have, it works. ^_^

]]> By: snaked http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-21927 snaked Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:29:32 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-21927 Your long winded, kitchen sink writing (with content wrapped in parentheses) is something I enjoy as is. I believe notation silliness would just detract from the value of your work. Footnotes would change the tone considerably. I'm much more interested in sitting down to read a fun little account or diatribe from the world of Cyde than I am in reading the same material presented as though it were an encyclopedia article. Keep it informal. Or less formal. Your long winded, kitchen sink writing (with content wrapped in parentheses) is something I enjoy as is. I believe notation silliness would just detract from the value of your work. Footnotes would change the tone considerably. I’m much more interested in sitting down to read a fun little account or diatribe from the world of Cyde than I am in reading the same material presented as though it were an encyclopedia article. Keep it informal. Or less formal.

]]> By: Kelly Martin http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-21897 Kelly Martin Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:33:17 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-21897 I've long been an abuser of the parenthetical comment, and have been working lately to avoid using them. It's too soon to say if it's improved my writing, or not. I’ve long been an abuser of the parenthetical comment, and have been working lately to avoid using them. It’s too soon to say if it’s improved my writing, or not.

]]> By: Kat http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2008/04/12/footnotes-v-parenthese/comment-page-1/#comment-21879 Kat Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:46:14 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/?p=743#comment-21879 OTOH, some literature makes extensive use of footnotes; try David Foster Wallace sometime. :-) OTOH, some literature makes extensive use of footnotes; try David Foster Wallace sometime. :-)

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